Tiltable Rack System

ABSTRACT

A rack assembly that is used to load and unload heavy or bulky material on an overhead rack of a truck, van, trailer, or similar vehicle. The rack assembly may include a base assembly, which may be sized to fit a range of vehicles, trailers, and the like. The rack assembly includes a movable part which rolls down over the side of the vehicle and allows improved access to simplify the loading and unloading operations used to secure any material to the rack. The movable part may include a manual handle, or a power assist mechanism, to assist in loading and unloading operations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/533,558 filed on Sep. 12, 2012 by the presentinventor, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tilting rack system for a vehicle,which is especially suited for use with a pick-up truck, and morespecifically a tilting rack system that rack rolls down over the side ofthe vehicle and allows easy access to simplify the loading, unloading,and any tie-down operations of any material that would normally beplaced on the overhead rack of a truck, van or similar vehicle.

2. Background of the Invention

Several prior truck rack systems include overhead actuation featuresthat ease the loading and unloading of long or bulky items over the topof the truck's bed, and then over the cab of the truck. Many of thesetruck racks require an extensive retrofit to install, and its mechanismof operation is very complex. An improved rack is needed that rolls downover the side of the vehicle and allows easy access to simplify theloading and unloading of any material that would normally be placed onthe overhead rack of a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to a rack assembly that is used to load andunload heavy or bulky material on an overhead rack of a truck, van,trailer, or similar vehicle. The rack assembly may include a baseassembly, which may be sized to fit a range of vehicles, trailers, andthe like. The rack assembly includes a movable part which rolls downover the side of the vehicle and allows improved access to simplify theloading, unloading, and/or tie-down operations used to secure anymaterial to the rack. The movable part may include a manual handle, or apower assist mechanism, to assist in loading and unloading operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers representcorresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 illustrates an end view of one side of a rack assembly accordingto an exemplary embodiment the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an end view of the rack assembly of FIG. 1 with amovable part of the rack in a lowered (open) position;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the rack assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates rollers that may be included in the movable part ofthe rack assembly of FIG. 1

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the rack assembly of FIG. 1with one movable part (right side) in a raised (closed) position andanother movable part (left side) in a lowered position (open position).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides arack assembly that is used to load and/or unload heavy or bulky material(e.g., lumber, garage doors, building materials, etc.) on an overheadrack (or similar locations) of a truck, van, trailer, or similarvehicle. The rack assembly may roll down over the side of the vehicleand allows improved access to simplify the loading, unloading, and/ortie-down operations used to secure any material to the rack.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the rack assembly may include a base assembly 1,which may be sized as needed to fit a range of vehicles, trailers, etc.The base assembly 1 is the stationary part of the rack system andincludes a tracking system as shown in FIG. 4 on which the movable part2 of the rack may ride. The base assembly 1 may be mounted on differentvehicles in different ways. The base assembly 1 may include a pair ofhorizontal rails, for instance, mounted on each side of a truck bed 13.Alternatively, the base assembly 1 may include a vertical member at eachof four corners corresponding to a rectangular rack. The rails orvertical corner members may be connected by vertical, angled, orradiused members at each corner.

The base assembly 1 may be secured to the vehicle body at anchor points12. The movable part 2 may include vertical load supports 8 which may beused to maintain cargo position during the loading process and also tomaintain cargo positioning when the vehicle is under way.

The movable part 2 of the rack may have the general appearance of aladder and may include side members and connecting cross members asneeded to adequately support expected loads. The movable part 2 of therack may include rollers 5 or bearings to assist with the lowering andraising operation of the rack. The outboard edge of the movable part 2of the rack may include hinges 4, rollers and/or bearings 5 as well asconnecting arms 3 that may guide the movable part 2 of the rack as it islowered off the side of the vehicle or trailer.

A manual handle 9, or a powered assist mechanism, which may includeelectric motors, hydraulics and/or air power, as well as gearing andcables, may be attached to assist during loading and unloadingoperations. A support dock 10 is provided to store the manual handlewhen not in use. Safety mechanisms, which may include automatic ormanual locks, pins and/or clasping mechanisms 6, may secure the movablepart 2 of the rack in the loaded or closed position. A stop-block 11 maybe provided to arrest the downward motion of the movable part 2 at thedesired location.

Various tie-downs 7 may be included at appropriate locations on the rack(such as various places along the movable part 2 of the rack) and may beused to secure various loads to the rack.

The rack may be made of various appropriate materials and/orcombinations of materials (e.g., steel, stainless steel, aluminum,fiberglass, etc.). Powder coating or a baked on finish may be applied insome cases, and any aluminum may be anodized.

The rack may be assembled using bolts, pins, hinges 4, and/or otherappropriate ways (e.g., welding various components together, formingvarious elements of the rack using an injection molding process, etc.).The rack may include ports and/or fittings for admitting lubricant toany joints. The handle 9 or power assist mechanism may connect to theconnecting arm 3 or elsewhere on the movable part 2 of the rack, whichin turn will ride on the base assembly 1 of the rack. The racks may bemanufactured in a machine shop, an assembly/production line, and/orother appropriate ways.

The base assembly 1 may be attached to the bed or top of a vehicle ortrailer. The movable part 2 of the rack may ride on and be guided by thetracking elements of the base part of the rack, including any connectingarms 3 or hinges 4 at the outboard edges of the rack. Any manual handleor power assist mechanism may control the movable part of the rack,allowing the movable part 2 to move out and down at an angle when therack is lowered for loading or unloading. The opposite movement may beused to return the rack to a closed position. The rollers 5, bearings orslides may be mounted on the base part of the rack and the tracking partof the rack may be located on the movable part of the rack.

In operation, the user unlatches the clasping mechanisms 6. The userpulls the movable part 2 away from the vehicle. Alternately, the usermay use the manual hand assembly 9. The manual hand assembly 9 is pulledaway from the support dock 10. The manual hand assembly is pulled awayfrom the vehicle and the movable part 2 rolls along the base assembly 1until the rack is in the open position for loading. Materials are loadedonto the movable part 2 and the vertical load supports 8 keep largematerials from rolling off movable part 2. The loaded materials may betied-down at the anchor points 7.

After loading, the user pushes the movable part 2 towards the vehicle.Alternately, the user may use the manual hand assembly 9. The manualhand assembly 9 is pushed towards the vehicle and the movable part 2rolls along the base assembly 1 until the rack is in the closed positionfor traveling. The manual hand assembly 9 is pushed to rest on thesupport dock 10. The user latches the clasping mechanisms 6

Although the rack and its various components have been described withreference to various details, one of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that the rack and/or its components may be used in differentways without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance,although the rack may have been described as mounting on a particulartype of vehicle, the rack could be mounted on various other objects(e.g., trailer, farm equipment, etc.) in various appropriate ways. Inaddition, the rack may be used in an industrial setting (or otherappropriate setting) where access to stored materials may be enhanced(e.g., when storing large or bulky items on a shelf, when loading orunloading items to or from a relatively high position, etc.).Furthermore, in addition to being used to load heavy or bulky items, therack may be used to load relatively light items (e.g., ladders, kayaks,etc.).

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A rack assembly adapted to facilitate loading and unloading ofmaterials, the rack assembly comprising: (a.) a base assembly configuredto fit a vehicle; (b.) a movable portion coupled to the base assembly,the movable portion configured to be able to move down and away from thevehicle during operation; and (c.) at least one of a handle or a powerassist mechanism coupled to the movable portion and configured so as toallow the moveable portion to be moved during operation.
 2. The rackassembly according to claim 1, wherein the base assembly is connected toa movable portion with a tracking system.
 3. The rack assembly accordingto claim 2, wherein the tracking system further comprises rollers orbearings.
 4. The rack assembly according to claim 1, wherein the baseassembly is secured to the vehicle at anchor points.
 5. The rackassembly according to claim 1, wherein the base assembly furthercomprises a pair of horizontal members mounted on each side of a vehiclebed.
 6. The rack assembly according to claim 5, wherein the horizontalmembers are provided at the front and rear of the vehicle bed,intersecting the tops of vertical, angles, or radiused members.
 7. Therack assembly according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion isconnected to the base assembly with connecting arms, hinges, rollers,and/or bearings.
 8. The rack assembly according to claim 1, wherein thepower assist mechanism further compromises electric, hydraulic, orpneumatic devices.
 9. The rack assembly according to claim 1, whereinthe handle is manual.
 10. The rack assembly according to claim 1,wherein the power assist mechanism further compromises gearing andcables.
 11. The rack assembly according to claim 1, wherein the movableportion is provided with tie-downs to secure loads.
 12. The rackassembly according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion furthercomprises vertical supports to keep large materials from rolling off themovable portion.
 13. The rack assembly according to claim 1, wherein thebase assembly further comprises vertical members at each of the fourcorners of said rack.
 14. The rack assembly according to claim 1,wherein the base assembly is provided with a safety mechanism to securethe movable portion in the closed position.
 15. The rack assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the base assembly further comprisesvertical members and horizontal members which are connected by vertical,angled, or radiused members.